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EMPLOYMENT As an international student, you may obtain employment or assistantships on the MBU campus and work a maximum of 20 hours per week while school is in session, but you may exceed 20 hours per week when school is not in session. Off-campus work is prohibited unless you have DSO or DHS approval.
CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an off-campus work authorization available to F-1 students completing an eligible internship or practicum course in their degree program. Authorization requires approval from the academic department and DSO and must be an integral part of an established curriculum. Students must have CPT authorization on their I-20 before they begin employment. Students must be in status at least one academic year to be eligible to apply for CPT. Although there is no total hourly limit for CPT, those who have completed one year or more of full-time CPT (20+ hours per week) are ineligible for OPT. Contact OIE if you would like to apply for CPT.
OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING F-1 students who have been enrolled at least one academic year may apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is an off-campus work authorization that allows up to 12 months of employment in their field of study. Students may be eligible for another 12 months of practical training at a higher degree level. Post-completion OPT F-1 visa holders who are in status and plan to complete a degree program are allowed to apply for Post-completion Optional Practical Training. Students can apply as soon as 90-days before the completion of their program. It is recommended you allow plenty of time to contact International Student Services about the application process. Workshops are also provided for students each semester to guide in this process. Students in some majors in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) may be eligible for a 24-month extension of OPT. Pre-completion OPT Students who begin OPT during their degree program are limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session. Time spent working in pre-completion OPT counts against the 12 month practical training total. Students who participate in pre-completion OPT must submit a second application if wishing to pursue post-completion OPT.
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD A Social Security card is only necessary for students who have obtained employment either on campus or as part of their internship. You may apply for a Social Security number (SSN) after you have been offered a job. You will need to obtain a letter from the employer indicating the terms of employment and bring it to International Student Services. OIE will prepare a letter for you to take
